Hosted by E.K.Bensah Jr, a Research & Communications Specialist, the show seeks to disrupt the African Rising narrative by demystifying;unpacking; and explaining ECOWAS;African Union; South-South Cooperation policies around Africa's integration.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

SPECIAL: Talking
Points around #ECOWAS@40(4): One-on-one with former ECOWAS Official Frank Ofei

In ep.43 of #AfricainFocusShow, we will
be doing something a little different around the "Talking Points around
#Ecowas@40

We will be having a one-on-one with
former Ecowas official Frank Ofei on aspects of Ecowas' integration, which is
timely as the 47th Ordinary Session of Ecowas is underway here in Accra.

It
is also timely because Ecowas turns 40 on 28 May!

The difference for 19 May's edition is that,
given how some of us have been studying and monitoring Ecowas for a
decade-plus, & calling for it to be more accountable to the average ECOWAS
Community citizen, it is important to also include a small appreciation of the
theory of regional integration so listeners appreciate how powerful this Ecowas
bloc is when pitted against the larger global context.

ECOWAS
obviously turns 40 on 28 May, but what does ECOWAS need to quickly do over the
next ten years to ensure it remains relevant and meaningful for its citizens?

We will also
use the show to briefly touch on how ECOWAS sits in the grand scheme of
regional integration theories, such as neo-functionalism, which sees member states
of a grouping cooperating; collaborating on specific projects (such as Liberian
intervention by Nigerian-led ECOMOG in 1989) to such an extent that it spills
over to cooperating on other projects in the furtherance of integration.

To speak to
these, and many more questions, we will be having a very important discussion
with former ECOWAS official Frank Ofei.

Call us on the following numbers when
we open the phone lines at 14h30 GMT

+233(0)289.000.931 //
+233(0)289.931.000

Join us if you can at 1pm on 19 May, 2015.

Guiding questions

·There’s a crisis brewing in Burundi.
In the absence of a Peace & Security Architecture comparable to ECOWAS’
what lessons can that region learn from ECOWAS to inform how they manage the
crisis?

·ECOWAS’ free movement has meant that
more than 70pct of the migrants have originated from the sub-region. How has
ECOWAS been actively seized on the migrant crisis, given its collaboration with
Spain since 2008?

·How have #ECOWAS40 celebrations been
so far throughout the sub-region, and what is your assessment of how other ECOWAS
Day celebrations have been? How, for example, was #ECOWAS30 celebrations?

·What are some of the economic
integration-related issues we need to look out for from the ECOWAS Summit
underway?

·Is it not time for the revised 1993
ECOWAS Treaty to be revised to reflect realities; structures; and institutions
of 2015?

In the next edition of AIF Show, we
will be having a conversation with some strong women about the impact of
Ghana's ongoing power crisis on our mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters.

As the critical element in the nuclear family, what alternatives exist
to help mitigate the impact effects on them? To that end, we will, in our
second conversation with SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, speak to two
reps from that organisation, who will also tell us about their affordable solar
lanterns, and other options that exist for women.

Furthermore, we will speak to Mrs.Catherine
Appiah-Pinkrah of Ministry of Defence who will give insights into the
implications of power crisis as a "peace and security" issue at the
micro-level in the way it impacts the nuclear family.

With Mother's Day behind us, might it be an
opportunity not just to celebrate our mothers, daughters, and sisters but...to
reflect on the immense multiple roles they are compelled to assume as they seek
to bring harmony to the home in the light of the more-than-usual darkness that
has visited the homes of Ghanaians for 3 years.

Call us on the following numbers when
we open the phone lines at 14h30 GMT

+233(0)289.000.931 //
+233(0)289.931.000

Join
us if you can at 1pm on 12 May, 2015.

Guiding
questions

1. Everyone is
being impacted by the ongoing power crisis, so why should we start segmenting
which gender is most affected?

2. Suppose we
operate from assumption women are even affected differently, in what specific
ways does the crisis affect them, & their productivity that is different
from men?

3. As we
celebrate 15 years of UNSCR1325, what can the newly-established WPSComms1325
help do to intervene in the discussions on alternatives for women as they help
manage the family unit, ensuring it is as harmonious as possible for both
children & husbands?

4. Are we taking
it for granted how the power crisis is veritably a peace & security matter
at the micro-level?

As "Africa in Focus" turned 1 year old on 5 May, we took the opportunity to use the forty-first edition to further-explore "Talking Points around #ECOWAS@40", with a particular focus on what the twittersphere describes as a #migrantCrisis.To that end, we felt it important to speak to a representative from the Ghana mission of the International Organisation for Migration, which has been in Ghana since 1987. Although the international organisation was established as far back as 1951 in the aftermath of the Second World War, it remains ever-relevant especially at a time when there have been over 1000 deaths on the Mediterranean.Kojo Wilmot of IOM offered us a history of IOM, including the reason why IOM decided to set up in Ghana in 1987. That was a period in Ghana's history when the Diasporan community was being encouraged to return to the country to contribute to the country's development. Kojo further gave us an overview of IOM's activities, including what the organisation is doing to help globally on the #migrantCrisis underway in the Mediterranean.

Dr.Akuffo (L); Kojo Wilmot(R)

Dr.Edward Akuffo, assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Fraser Valley, Canada, gave us the important background to the migrant crisis, which has its genesis in the Nato intervention of 2011 that ousted the Libyan leader Qaddafi; including the 2012 Mali coup, which further destabilised the sub-region, and the Sahel to such an extent that it triggered a new wave of migrants.

Just in case you missed it: "Africa in Focus Show" is the ONLY weekly magazine on Ghanaian radio explaining; unpacking; demystifying ECOWAS; AU; and South-South cooperation policies around Africa's integration. We are airborne every Tuesday from 13h00 to 15h00 GMT. All podcasts are available for download on www.africainfocusradioshow.org Follow the conversation using #AfricainFocus

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

The Pan African Parliament (PAP) is gravely saddened and concerned about the
continued, unfortunate and avoidable death of African migrants while attempting to
cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe.
Current reports indicate that about 1200 migrants have died in the month of April
2015 while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe.

This unfortunate
situation where our young men and women risk their lives in search of greener
pastures cannot be allowed to continue.
The Pan African Parliament recognizes that migration represents one of the critical
issues threatening our continental peace and security and further calls on Members
States of the European Union to ease stringent immigration policies and put in place a
humane and positive institutional framework that will allow clear support for lawful
migration.

The Pan African Parliament therefore calls on all AU member governments to develop
a continental response to the problem of youth unemployment and sensitize our youths
on the risk of illegal migration. Our leaders must also develop policies and put in place
put in place a humane and tangible institutional framework that allows clear support
for lawful migration.

In July 2008,
ECOWAS and the Government of Spain signed in Barcelona, Spain, a technical
document for the administration and management of 10 million euros: the
ECOWAS-Spain Fund on Migration and Development. Spain granted the amount to
ECOWAS in support of immigration and development, small arms control as well as
energy development and access. The contribution made Spain the single largest
donor country to the regional organization. The signing ceremony took place in
consolidation of theMemorandum of Understanding(MoU) signed between the two parties in December 2005. The Fund,
which was to be managed by a 10-memberSteering Committee, is
specifically dedicated to the ECOWAS Commission and Member States in the
development and implementation of theECOWAS Common Approach on Migration. It is also aimed at supporting activities on migration and
development in order to maximize the positive effects and limit the negative
consequences of migration on countries, migrants and their families.

A Memorandum of Understanding
between Spain and the-then ECOWAS Executive Secretariat was signed in December
2005, which institutionalizes the cooperation between both entities, setting up
a number of prioritized sectors and reaching an agreement on different
commitments. The Spain-ECOWAS Fund for Migration and Development was created in
2008, with a contribution of 10 million Euros (which arguably shows the
importance given to migration issues) and a satellite office of the Spanish
Agency for International Cooperation and Development opened at Spain’s Embassy
in Abuja, in order to facilitate cooperation relations with the ECOWAS

In 2012, the Commission of the
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) initiated the process of
rolling out the second phase of a funding scheme that supports Civil Society
Organisations (CSOs) in member states to carry out projects that promote
migration and development.

A press
statement signed by Mr. Sanoh N’Faly, Director of Free Movement of Persons and
Tourism, said the funding mechanism was being implemented under the
ECOWAS/Spain Fund for Migration and Development (ESFMD), established between
the Commission and the government of Spain in 2009.

“The objective of the ESFMD is
to contribute to poverty reduction in the ECOWAS region through effective,
sustainable regional integration and capacity building interventions. The first
phase of the project, which was rolled out in 2011, had as many as 24 CSOs from
member states receiving grants for various projects for promoting migration and
development,” the statement noted.In
preparation for the commencement of the second phase of the grant under the
ESFMD, the statement further noted that the Commission had started engaging
CSOs in member states to sensitise them about the project and grant-making
processes. This process would subsequently be followed by a call for grant
proposals from CSOs.

In our view, in the light of what was arguably
the worst month for migrants attempting to cross Europe (reported death of 1300
migrants in three incidents in less than two weeks), we want to begin asking
important questions about the flip-side of free movement, which is an important
cornerstone of any regional integration project. How far has ECOWAS itself delivered
on its 2008 “ECOWAS Common Approach on Migration”, and what are international
organisations like the IOM doing to help migrants.

Call us on the following numbers when
we open the phone lines at 14h30 GMT

+233(0)289.000.931 //
+233(0)289.931.000

Join
us if you can at 1pm on 5 May, 2015.

Guiding
questions

·What is the compelling impetus, and IR dynamics
compelling migrants to leave the shores of Africa?

·Did
the passing of former Libyan leader Qaddafi help or hinder the efforts of
migrants?

·What
was Libya’s policy on migration?

·What is the mission of IOM, and why has it dedicated itself to
fighting their cause?

·What has caused the upsurge of irregular migration through the
Mediterranean to Europe?

·Can we have a discussion on migrants in West Africa without
referring to the Mali uprising of 2012?

·What percentages of Ghanaians are migrating towards Europe, and
why are Ghanaians adopting other nationalities?

·What are some of the international and regional responses to
migration IOM is a part of? {EU;
US-GCC(May 2015); AU; Pan-African Parliament)

Guests in the studio:

ØEdward Akuffo, PhD ,Assistant
Professor, Political Science, University of the Fraser Valley; Director, Global
Development Institute,

"Africa in Focus Show" is the ONLY weekly magazine on Ghanaian radio explaining; unpacking; demystifying ECOWAS; AU; and South-South cooperation policies around Africa's integration. We are airborne every Tuesday from 13h00 to 15h00 GMT. All podcasts are available for download on www.africainfocusradioshow.org Follow the conversation using #AfricainFocus